Communication Method and Communication Apparatus

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2024/076157, filed on Feb. 5, 2024, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310176651.5, filed on Feb. 16, 2023. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Embodiments of this application relate to the communication field, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication apparatus.

In a communication system, a network device needs to determine, based on CSI parameters, downlink channel-related configuration information such as resources for scheduling downlink data channels of a terminal device, a modulation and coding scheme (modulation and coding scheme, MCS), and precoding. The terminal device calculate downlink CSI parameters by measuring downlink reference signals, and feeds back the downlink CSI parameters to the network device through CSI reports (report). CSI feedback modes include codebook-based CSI feedback, AI model-based CSI feedback, and the like. In some scenarios, a size of a CSI report to be transmitted may exceed a carrying capacity of a channel. For example, when multiple CSI reports need to be transmitted on a same resource, a size of the CSI reports to be transmitted may exceed a carrying capacity of a channel.

Therefore, how to perform CSI feedback to allow the network device to obtain the CSI report becomes an urgent problem to be resolved.

Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communication apparatus, to implement effective transmission of a CSI report, and to allow a network device to obtain desired related information in a CSI report.

According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal device, or may be performed by a chip or a circuit disposed in the terminal device. This is not limited in this application.

The method includes: obtaining p groups to be transmitted on a first resource, where the p groups belong to N channel state information CSI reports, p is an integer greater than 1, and N is an integer greater than 1; and sending a part or all of the p groups on the first resource based on priorities of the p groups, where the priorities of the p groups are based on priorities of the N CSI reports, the priority of the CSI report is based on a type of the CSI report, and a type of at least one of the N CSI reports is an AI-related type.

According to the solutions in this embodiment of this application, CSI reports to be transmitted on a same resource include an AI-related CSI report, and a priority of the CSI report is based on a type of the CSI report. The priorities of the p groups in the N CSI reports may be determined based on the priorities of the N CSI reports, so that the part or all of the p groups are sent based on the priorities of the p groups to be transmitted on a same resource. This helps appropriately use resources, so that a network device obtains needed information. For example, when the same resource cannot carry all of the p groups, a part of groups may be selected based on the priorities of the p groups for sending, and a higher-priority group is sent, and a lower-priority group is discarded, so that the network device can obtain channel information in the higher-priority group, for example, obtain channel information in an important group.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the priority of the CSI report is based on one or more parameters indicative of at least one of the following: a periodicity of the CSI report, a channel on which the CSI report is carried, whether the CSI report includes a layer 1-reference signal received power (layer 1-reference signal received power, L1-RSRP) or a layer 1-signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (L1-signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, L1-SINR), a serving cell to which the CSI report belongs, or an identity (identity, ID) of the CSI report, at least one of the one or more parameters further indicates the type of the CSI report, and the type of the CSI report includes the AI-related type or an AI-unrelated type.

For example, for a parameter, different values of the parameter may indicate different information.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the priority of the CSI report is based on one or more parameters, at least one of the one or more parameters indicates the type of the CSI report, the type of the CSI report includes the AI-related type or an AI-unrelated type, and another parameter in the one or more parameters indicates at least one of the following: a periodicity of the CSI report, a channel on which the CSI report is carried, whether the CSI report includes an L1-RSRP or an L1-SINR, a serving cell to which the CSI report belongs, or an ID of the CSI report.

For example, the at least one parameter indicating the type of CSI report may not indicate other information.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the AI-related type includes one or more of a first CSI report type, a second CSI report type, or a third CSI report type; and report content of the first CSI report type includes channel information obtained through inference by an AI model, report content of the second CSI report type includes performance information of the AI model, or report content of the third CSI report type includes channel information for implementing an operation related to the AI model.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the priority of the CSI report may alternatively be based on an AI model associated with the CSI report.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the N CSI reports include a first CSI report, a type of the first CSI report is the first CSI report type, the first CSI report includes p1 groups in the p groups, priorities of the p1 groups are based on a priority of the first CSI report and priorities of the p1 groups in the first CSI report, and p1 is an integer greater than 1.

For example, the N CSI reports further include a fourth CSI report, a type of the fourth CSI report is the first CSI report type, the fourth CSI report includes p1′ groups in the p groups, and priorities of the p1′ groups are based on a priority of the fourth CSI report and priorities of the p1′ groups in the fourth CSI report. The priority of the fourth CSI report is lower than the priority of the first CSI report, and a priority of each group in the fourth CSI report is lower than a priority of a group, in the first CSI report, corresponding to the group in the fourth CSI report. p1′=p1. The p1 groups in the first CSI report include group p1-1 and group p1-2, and correspondingly, the p1′ groups in the fourth CSI report include group p1′-1 and group p1′-2. A priority of group p1-1 is higher than a priority of group p1-2, a priority of group p1′-1 is higher than a priority of group p1′-2, the priority of group p1-1 is higher than the priority of group p1′-1, the priority of group p1′-1 is higher than the priority of group p1-2, and the priority of group p1-2 is higher than the priority of group p1′-2.

There is a correspondence between a group in the fourth CSI report and a group in the first CSI report. If a priority, in the fourth CSI report, of a group in the fourth CSI report is the same as a priority, in the first CSI report, of a group in the first CSI report, the two groups may be considered as groups having a correspondence.

In other words, for two CSI reports of the first CSI report type, during determining of priorities, priorities of groups are first considered, and then priorities of the CSI reports to which the groups having a correspondence belong are considered.

In this embodiment of this application, the first CSI report may be divided into multiple groups, so that information sending flexibility can be improved, to increase a probability that the network device obtains a group in the first CSI report. This helps the network device obtain partial information in the CSI report. For example, the first CSI report is divided into multiple groups, and the groups correspond to different priorities. When the first resource cannot carry the p groups, even if the whole first CSI report cannot be sent, a probability that the network device obtains a part of groups in the first CSI report can be increased. This helps the network device obtain partial information in the CSI report.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the channel information obtained through inference by the AI model includes channel information of multiple layers, the p1 groups each include channel information of at least one of the multiple layers, and the priorities of the p1 groups in the first CSI report match priorities of the channel information of the at least one layer in the p1 groups.

For example, priorities of channel information of layers are related to eigenvalues or singular values corresponding to eigenvectors of the layers. The priorities of the channel information of the layers are sorted in ascending order of the eigenvalues or the singular values corresponding to the eigenvectors of the layers, or the priorities of the channel information of the layers are sorted in descending order of the eigenvalues or the singular values corresponding to the eigenvectors of the layers. Beamforming gains of different layers may be different. Generally, a larger eigenvalue or singular value corresponding to a layer indicates a larger beamforming gain of the layer. Sparseness of eigenvectors of different layers may be different. Generally, a larger eigenvalue or singular value corresponding to a layer indicates stronger sparseness of an eigenvector of the layer, that is, higher feedback precision in the case of same feedback overheads.

In this embodiment of this application, priorities of the channel information obtained through AI inference may be classified based on layers, and a priority of channel information of a layer matches a priority of a group to which the layer belongs in the first CSI report. Beamforming gains of different layers may be different. Therefore, beamforming gains of different layers can be distinguished through priority classification based on layers. This helps implement priority classification based on different beamforming gains. For example, a layer with a larger beamforming gain may be used as a higher-priority layer, and the higher-priority layer belongs to a higher-priority group. In this way, it can be preferentially ensured that this part of CSI can be fed back. In other words, a probability that the network device obtains channel information of the layer with the larger beamforming gain is increased. In addition, sparseness of eigenvectors of different layers may be different, that is, feedback precision may be different. Therefore, feedback precision of different layers can be distinguished through priority classification based on layers. This helps implement priority classification based on different feedback precision. For example, a layer with higher feedback precision may be used as a higher-priority layer, and the higher-priority layer belongs to a higher-priority group. In this way, it can be preferentially ensured that this part of CSI can be fed back. In other words, a probability that the network device obtains channel information of the layer with the higher feedback precision is increased.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the channel information obtained through inference by the AI model includes channel information of multiple segments, the p1 groups each include channel information of at least one of the multiple segments, and the priorities of the p1 groups in the first CSI report match priorities of the channel information of the at least one segment in the p1 groups.

For example, a priority of channel information of a segment is related to whether CSI can be independently recovered based on the segment, and channel information of a segment based on which the CSI can be independently recovered has a highest priority.

In this embodiment of this application, priority classification is performed based on segments, so that a segment based on which CSI can be independently recovered has a higher priority, and the higher-priority segment belongs to a higher-priority group. In this way, it can be preferentially ensured that this part of CSI can be fed back. In other words, a probability that the network device obtains the segment based on which the CSI can be independently recovered is increased. This helps the network device recover the CSI. In this way, even if the whole first CSI report cannot be sent, a probability that the network device obtains a higher-priority group can be increased. Even if a segment with a low priority is discarded, the network device can still recover the CSI based on a remaining segment with a high priority.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the priority of the at least one segment is related to a layer at which the at least one segment is located and a location of the at least one segment at the layer at which the at least one segment is located.

The channel information obtained through inference by the AI model may include channel information of multiple layers. Channel information of a part or all of the multiple layers is segmented, to obtain the channel information of the multiple segments. A priority of a segment is related to a layer at which the segment is located and a location of the segment at the layer at which the segment is located. The location of the segment at the layer at which the segment is located may be understood as a segment at the layer. For example, the location of the segment at the layer at which the segment is located may be indicated by an index of the segment at the layer at which the segment is located. The layer at which the segment is located may be indicated by an index of the layer at which the segment is located. For example, a priority of an isegment at a jlayer is related to values of i and j, where i indicates an index of the segment at the layer at which the segment is located, and j indicates an index of the layer at which the segment is located.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the N CSI reports include a second CSI report, a type of the second CSI report is the second CSI report type, the second CSI report includes p2 groups in the p groups, priorities of the p2 groups are based on a priority of the second CSI report and priorities of the p2 groups in the second CSI report, and p2 is an integer greater than 1.

For example, the N CSI reports further include a fifth CSI report, a type of the fifth CSI report is the second CSI report type, the fifth CSI report includes p2′ groups in the p groups, and priorities of the p2′ groups are based on a priority of the fifth CSI report and priorities of the p2′ groups in the fifth CSI report. The priority of the fifth CSI report is lower than the priority of the second CSI report, and a priority of each group in the fifth CSI report is lower than a priority of a group, in the second CSI report, corresponding to the group in the fifth CSI report. p2′=p2. The p2 groups in the second CSI report include group p2-1 and group p2-2, and correspondingly, the p2′ groups in the fifth CSI report include group p2′-1 and group p2′-2. A priority of group p2-1 is higher than a priority of group p2-2, a priority of group p2′-1 is higher than a priority of group p2′-2, the priority of group p2-1 is higher than the priority of group p2′-1, the priority of group p2′-1 is higher than the priority of group p2-2, and the priority of group p2-2 is higher than the priority of group p2′-2.

There is a correspondence between a group in the fifth CSI report and a group in the second CSI report. If a priority, in the fifth CSI report, of a group in the fifth CSI report is the same as a priority, in the second CSI report, of a group in the second CSI report, the two groups may be considered as groups having a correspondence.

In other words, for two CSI reports of the second CSI report type, during determining of priorities, priorities of groups are first considered, and then priorities of the CSI reports to which the groups having a correspondence belong are considered.

In this embodiment of this application, the second CSI report may be divided into multiple groups, so that information sending flexibility can be improved, to increase a probability that the network device obtains a group in the second CSI report. This helps the network device obtain partial information in the CSI report. For example, the second CSI report is divided into multiple groups, and the groups correspond to different priorities. When the first resource cannot carry the p groups, even if the whole second CSI report cannot be sent, a probability that the network device obtains a part of groups in the second CSI report can be increased. This helps the network device obtain partial information in the CSI report.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the performance information of the AI model includes overall performance information, performance information of the multiple layers, or performance information of multiple subbands, the p2 groups each include at least one piece of performance information in the performance information of the AI model, and the priorities of the p2 groups in the second CSI report match priorities of the at least one piece of performance information in the p2 groups.

For example, the overall performance information of the AI model may be overall accuracy of recovered CSI information. The overall accuracy of the recovered CSI information may be determined based on accuracy that is of each layer and/or each subband and that is in the recovered CSI information. For example, the overall accuracy of the recovered CSI information may be represented as an average value of SGCSs between recovered information of each layer and/or each subband and raw information of each layer and/or each subband.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, a priority of the overall performance information is higher than priorities of the performance information of the multiple layers, or the priority of the overall performance information is higher than priorities of the performance information of the multiple subbands.

In this embodiment of this application, the priority of the overall performance information may be higher than a priority of other performance information. This helps increase a probability that the network device obtains the overall performance information, so that overall performance of the AI model can be determined, to implement subsequent configuration.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, a third CSI report in the N CSI reports includes one of the p groups.

The third CSI report may be any one of the N CSI reports.

In other words, in the p groups, a part of CSI reports include only one group.

For example, the CSI reports may not be divided into multiple groups, that is, the CSI reports as a whole may be considered as one group.

According to the solutions in this embodiment of this application, for some information having a high integrity requirement, if a part of the information is discarded, subsequent configuration may be affected. The information having the high integrity requirement may be used as one of the p groups. In this way, all of the information having the high integrity requirement may be discarded or uploaded.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, p=N.

In other words, the CSI reports each include one of the p groups.

For example, none of the N CSI reports is divided into multiple groups, that is, each of the N CSI reports may be considered as a whole as a group. The priorities of the p groups are based on the priorities of the N CSI reports.

According to the solutions in this embodiment of this application, for some information having a high integrity requirement, if a part of the information is discarded, subsequent configuration may be affected. If information having a high integrity requirement exists in each of the N CSI reports, the information having the high integrity requirement in each CSI report may be separately used as one of the p groups. In this way, all of the information having the high integrity requirement may be discarded or uploaded.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, at least two of the N CSI reports have a same priority.

For example, the priority setting manner may be applied to a scenario in which multiple CSI reports need to be used together. For multiple CSI reports with a same priority, when the multiple CSI reports need to be discarded, the multiple CSI reports may be discarded simultaneously, or a part of groups with a same priority are discarded based on priorities in the multiple CSI reports.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving first indication information from a network device, where the first indication information indicates priorities of a part or all of the N CSI reports.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first indication information is carried in one or more of radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling, a medium access control control element (medium access control element, MAC CE), or downlink control information (downlink control information, DCI).

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the sending the part or all of the p groups on the first resource based on the priorities of the p groups may include: selecting a part of groups from the p groups based on the priorities of the p groups, and sending the part of groups on the first resource.